Pat O’Brien, 83, Belfield, died Friday, May 28, 2010 at his home. Pat’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Belfield. Interment will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Belfield American Legion William C. Blair Post #144. Visitation will be on Monday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, and will continue on Tuesday one hour prior to services at the church. There will be a vigil at 7 p.m., Monday, at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson.
Pat O’Brien was born October 28, 1926, in Billings County near Fairfield, the son of John “Jack” and Laura (Dahl) O’Brien. He was raised and educated on a ranch northeast of Fairfield as one of seven children.
Pat enlisted in the United States Navy on September 16, 1944 and had served honorably until his discharge on July 20, 1946. He returned home to ranch in the home area. Pat married Genevieve Hecker on November 5, 1947, and to this union six children were born.
Pat worked at Western Livestock Company for 45 years and was the main auctioneer for a majority of that time and had also auctioneered at various auction markets for over 50 years. Pat became a major stockholder in Western Livestock Company and became president and manager in 1987, and remained in that capacity until semi-retiring in 1994.
Pat and Birdie Jilek were united in marriage on November 6, 1997 and they have made their home west of Belfield. Pat was a hard working honest man and was very active in 4-H, and loved spending time with friends, family and his animals. He had received several ranching and auctioneering awards. In his later years he continued ranching and still runs yearlings on his ranch west of Belfield.
Pat is survived by his wife, Birdie; five children, Jim (Peggy) O’Brien, Belfield, Sandy (Terry) Rixen, Dickinson, Kiddo (Faron) Barnhart, South Heart, Darnell (Al Flegler) O’Brien, Williston, and Shelly (Johnny) Ewoniuk, Belfield; two step-children, Dustan Davis, Billings, Mont., and Melissa Owen, West Hartford, Conn.; 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Ardys O’Brien, New River, Ariz.; his sister, Patricia (Arnold) Jost, Burlington; sister-in-law, Rose O’Brien, Dickinson; his mother-in-law, Cathy Machunze, Dickinson; special niece, Mony (Rod) Wolf, Belfield; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Shawn, one brother, four sisters, and an infant granddaughter. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to the Heartland Hospice.
